Manus AI Prompting Guide

Understanding Manus AI's unique approach

Manus AI operates fundamentally differently from traditional chat-based AI systems. It's designed as an autonomous general AI agent that "bridges minds and actions" - meaning it doesn't just provide responses, but actually executes tasks and delivers completed results. This paradigm shift requires a different approach to prompting.

Core principles for Manus AI prompting

1. Think in terms of outcomes, not conversations

• Focus on the end result you want to achieve.
• Describe the complete deliverable rather than asking for advice.
• Trust Manus to figure out the implementation details.

Bad prompt: "How should I approach creating a presentation about market trends?"

Good prompt: "Create a comprehensive 15-slide presentation analyzing current AI market trends for Q4 2024. Target audience: venture capital partners evaluating investment opportunities. Include market size data, key players, growth projections, investment patterns, and emerging opportunities. Use professional design with charts and graphs. Deliver as a downloadable PowerPoint file."

Why it's better: The good prompt specifies the complete deliverable, audience, content requirements, and format, allowing Manus to autonomously execute the entire task.

2. Provide comprehensive context upfront

• Include all relevant background information in your initial prompt.
• Specify constraints, preferences, and success criteria.
• Describe your role, industry, and specific situation.

Bad prompt: "Build me a website for my business."

Good prompt: "Create a complete website for my boutique digital marketing agency specializing in e-commerce brands. Company: 'Growth Catalyst Digital'. We serve online retailers with 1-10M annual revenue. Services: PPC advertising, conversion optimization, email marketing, social media management.

Website requirements:

• Modern, professional design that builds trust
• Homepage, About, Services, Case Studies, Contact pages
• Lead capture forms and consultation booking
• Mobile-responsive design
• SEO-optimized content
• Integration with Google Analytics
• Contact form that emails info@growthcatalyst.com

Brand personality: Data-driven, results-focused, approachable Color scheme: Navy blue, white, accent orange Include 3 fictional case studies showing 2x+ ROI improvements Deploy as a live website I can immediately use."

Why it's better: This prompt provides complete specifications, brand guidelines, functional requirements, and deployment expectations, enabling Manus to deliver a finished product.

3. Specify deliverable formats and deployment preferences

• Clearly state how you want to receive the final output.
• Indicate if you need files, live deployments, or specific formats.
• Mention any integration requirements or technical constraints.

Bad prompt: "Analyze my sales data."

Good prompt: "Analyze the attached sales data from our SaaS platform (Q1-Q3 2024) and deliver a comprehensive business intelligence report.

Data includes: customer acquisitions, churn rates, revenue by plan type, geographic distribution, and feature usage.

Deliverables needed:

1. Executive dashboard (interactive web page I can bookmark)
2. Detailed analysis report (PDF, 15-20 pages)
3. Raw data insights (Excel file with pivot tables)
4. Presentation slides for board meeting (PowerPoint, 12 slides)

Focus areas: growth trends, churn analysis, expansion opportunities, geographic performance, product-market fit indicators.

Make all deliverables accessible via download links and ensure visualizations are professional quality suitable for executive presentation."

Why it's better: This prompt specifies multiple deliverable formats, intended use cases, and technical requirements, allowing Manus to create a complete business intelligence solution.

4. Embrace autonomous execution

• Don't micromanage the process or ask for step-by-step plans.
• Trust Manus to make implementation decisions.
• Focus on desired outcomes rather than methodology.

Bad prompt: "First research competitors, then create an outline, then write content, then design slides for a competitive analysis presentation."

Good prompt: "Create a competitive analysis presentation for our project management software startup. We're competing against Asana, Monday.com, and Notion in the small-medium business market.

Deliver a polished 20-slide presentation covering:

• Market landscape and positioning
• Feature comparison matrix
• Pricing analysis and value propositions
• Strengths/weaknesses assessment
• Market opportunities and differentiation strategies
• Recommended competitive positioning

Target audience: Product team and investors Style: Professional, data-driven, visually compelling Include charts, graphs, and comparison tables

Research should be current (2024 data) and include recent product updates, pricing changes, and market developments."

Why it's better: This prompt trusts Manus to handle research, analysis, design, and content creation autonomously while clearly specifying the desired outcome.

Manus AI's specialized capabilities

1. Multi-modal content creation

• Slides and presentations with professional design
• Images and visual content generation
• Video creation and editing
• Interactive web applications
• Comprehensive documents and reports

Example multi-modal prompt: "Create a complete brand identity package for a sustainable fashion startup called 'EcoThread'.

Deliverables:

1. Logo design (3 variations: full logo, icon, wordmark)
2. Brand guidelines document (PDF, 25 pages)
3. Marketing presentation (slides explaining brand strategy)
4. Sample marketing materials (social media posts, business cards, letterhead)
5. Brand website mockup (interactive prototype)

Brand values: Sustainability, transparency, quality, accessibility Target market: Environmentally conscious millennials and Gen Z Aesthetic: Clean, modern, earthy tones, minimalist

Ensure all elements work cohesively and provide files in appropriate formats for immediate use."

2. Research and data analysis

• Comprehensive market research with current data
• Competitive intelligence gathering
• Data visualization and dashboard creation
• Trend analysis and forecasting
• Academic and industry research synthesis

Example research prompt: "Conduct comprehensive research on the remote work technology market and create an investment thesis report.

Research scope:

• Market size, growth rates, and projections through 2027
• Key segments: video conferencing, collaboration tools, productivity software, security solutions
• Major players, recent funding rounds, and M&A activity
• Emerging trends and disruptive technologies
• Geographic analysis (US, Europe, Asia-Pacific)
• Post-pandemic market evolution and stabilization patterns

Deliverables:

1. Executive summary (2 pages)
2. Detailed market analysis report (40-50 pages)
3. Investment opportunity presentation (25 slides)
4. Financial models and projections (Excel)
5. Company comparison database (searchable web interface)

Target audience: Venture capital investment committee Include actionable investment recommendations with risk assessments."

3. Business automation and workflow creation

• Process documentation and optimization
• Workflow automation design
• Business playbook development
• Standard operating procedures
• Training materials and onboarding guides

Example automation prompt: "Design and implement a complete customer onboarding automation system for our B2B SaaS platform.

Current process: Manual email sequences, scattered documentation, inconsistent follow-up Goal: Automated, personalized onboarding that increases activation rates and reduces churn

Requirements:

1. Automated email sequence (welcome through day 30)
2. Interactive onboarding checklist (web-based)
3. Progress tracking dashboard for customer success team
4. Personalized content based on user role and company size
5. Integration points for our CRM and product analytics
6. Success metrics and reporting system

Deliverables:

• Complete email templates and sequence logic
• Interactive onboarding portal (deployed and functional)
• Customer success dashboard
• Implementation playbook for our team
• Performance tracking and optimization recommendations

Make everything ready for immediate deployment with our existing tech stack (Salesforce, Intercom, Mixpanel)."

4. Educational content and training development

• Course creation and curriculum design
• Interactive learning materials
• Assessment and evaluation tools
• Training videos and presentations
• Knowledge base development

Example educational prompt: "Create a comprehensive digital marketing certification course for small business owners.

Course overview:

• Target: Small business owners with limited marketing experience
• Duration: 8 weeks, 2 hours per week
• Format: Self-paced online learning
• Goal: Practical skills for DIY digital marketing

Course modules:

1. Digital Marketing Fundamentals
2. Website Optimization and SEO
3. Social Media Marketing
4. Email Marketing and Automation
5. Pay-Per-Click Advertising
6. Content Marketing and Blogging
7. Analytics and Performance Measurement
8. Putting It All Together: Creating Your Marketing Plan

Deliverables:

• Complete online course platform (interactive, mobile-friendly)
• Video lessons for each module (professionally produced)
• Downloadable worksheets and templates
• Quizzes and practical assignments
• Final certification exam
• Student progress tracking system
• Instructor dashboard for course management

Include real-world examples, case studies, and actionable templates students can immediately apply to their businesses."

Task-specific prompting strategies

Research and Analysis Projects

1. Market research and competitive intelligence

   Comprehensive research approach: "Execute a complete market entry analysis for [product/service] in [target market].

   Business context: [Provide company background, current position, goals]

   Research requirements:

   • Market size, growth trends, and forecasts
   • Regulatory environment and compliance requirements
   • Competitive landscape and positioning analysis
   • Customer segments and buying behavior
   • Distribution channels and partnership opportunities
   • Pricing strategies and market dynamics
   • Entry barriers and success factors
   • Risk assessment and mitigation strategies

   Deliverables:

   1. Market entry strategy report (comprehensive PDF)
   2. Executive presentation for board approval
   3. Financial projections and business case
   4. Implementation roadmap and timeline
   5. Competitive monitoring dashboard

   Include actionable recommendations with clear next steps and resource requirements."

2. Data analysis and business intelligence

   Analytics-focused approach: "Transform our raw business data into actionable insights and automated reporting system.

   Data sources: [List available data - sales, customer, operational, financial] Business questions:

   • What drives customer acquisition and retention?
   • Which products/services are most profitable?
   • How can we optimize pricing and operations?
   • What are our growth opportunities and risks?

   Deliverables:

   1. Automated executive dashboard (web-based, real-time)
   2. Monthly business review presentation template
   3. Predictive models for key metrics
   4. Alert system for performance anomalies
   5. Data governance and quality monitoring
   6. Training materials for team adoption

   Ensure all outputs are accessible to non-technical stakeholders and provide clear action triggers based on data insights."

Content Creation and Marketing

1. Comprehensive content marketing systems

   Content ecosystem approach: "Build a complete content marketing system for [company/industry] targeting [specific audience].

   Brand context: [Company positioning, voice, values, competitive differentiation]

   Content requirements:

   • Blog content strategy and editorial calendar
   • Social media content across platforms
   • Email marketing sequences and newsletters
   • Video content and multimedia assets
   • Lead magnets and gated content
   • Sales enablement materials
   • SEO-optimized web content

   Deliverables:

   1. 6-month content calendar with all assets
   2. Content creation templates and guidelines
   3. Distribution and promotion strategy
   4. Performance tracking and optimization system
   5. Content management workflow and tools
   6. Team training and implementation guide

   Create actual content pieces, not just strategies. Include 50+ ready-to-publish pieces across all formats."

2. Brand development and visual identity

   Complete branding approach: "Develop complete brand identity and marketing materials for [business description].

   Brand requirements:

   • Logo design and visual identity system
   • Brand guidelines and style guide
   • Website design and development
   • Marketing collateral (digital and print)
   • Social media templates and assets
   • Packaging design (if applicable)
   • Brand messaging and voice guidelines

   Target audience: [Detailed customer personas] Brand personality: [Desired attributes and positioning] Competitive context: [Key differentiators and market position]

   Deliverables:

   1. Complete visual identity package
   2. Professional website (live and functional)
   3. Marketing materials library
   4. Brand implementation toolkit
   5. Usage guidelines and training materials

   Ensure all elements work cohesively and provide immediate business value."

Business Development and Operations

1. Process optimization and automation

   Systems improvement approach: "Analyze and optimize our [specific business process] to improve efficiency and outcomes.

   Current state: [Describe existing process, pain points, performance metrics] Desired outcomes: [Specific goals and success criteria]

   Optimization scope:

   • Process mapping and bottleneck identification
   • Automation opportunities and tool recommendations
   • Quality control and error reduction
   • Performance measurement and reporting
   • Team training and change management
   • Scalability and future-proofing

   Deliverables:

   1. Current state analysis and improvement recommendations
   2. Optimized process documentation and workflows
   3. Automation implementation (where applicable)
   4. Performance dashboard and monitoring system
   5. Training materials and change management plan
   6. ROI analysis and success metrics

   Implement actual improvements, not just recommendations. Provide working solutions ready for deployment."

2. Strategic planning and business development

   Strategic initiative approach: "Develop a comprehensive strategic plan for [specific business objective or growth initiative].

   Business context: [Current situation, resources, constraints, timeline] Strategic objective: [Specific, measurable goal]

   Planning requirements:

   • Market opportunity assessment
   • Competitive positioning strategy
   • Resource requirements and allocation
   • Implementation roadmap and milestones
   • Risk assessment and contingency planning
   • Success metrics and monitoring systems
   • Stakeholder communication and buy-in

   Deliverables:

   1. Strategic plan document (executive and detailed versions)
   2. Implementation project plan with timelines
   3. Financial projections and business case
   4. Stakeholder presentation and communication materials
   5. Progress tracking and reporting system
   6. Regular review and adjustment framework

   Provide actionable plans with clear accountability and measurable outcomes."

Advanced prompting techniques for Manus AI

1. Multi-deliverable project prompting

Request multiple related outputs in a single prompt:

"Create a complete product launch campaign for [product] including:

Strategic Foundation:

• Go-to-market strategy document
• Competitive positioning analysis
• Target audience research and personas

Creative Assets:

• Brand identity and visual guidelines
• Website landing pages (live and functional)
• Marketing collateral library
• Video content and multimedia assets

Campaign Execution:

• Multi-channel marketing plan
• Content calendar and social media strategy
• PR and influencer outreach plan
• Sales enablement materials

Measurement and Optimization:

• Analytics dashboard and tracking system
• Performance benchmarks and KPIs
• A/B testing framework
• Post-launch optimization recommendations

Deliver everything as a coordinated campaign ready for immediate execution."

2. Iterative improvement prompting

Build on Manus's autonomous capabilities:

"Create [initial deliverable] and then continuously improve it based on best practices and optimization opportunities.

Initial requirements: [Specify baseline requirements]

Improvement criteria:

• Performance optimization
• User experience enhancement
• Industry best practices integration
• Competitive differentiation
• Scalability and future-proofing

Deliver both the initial version and an enhanced version that represents your best recommendations for optimal results. Explain the improvements made and their expected impact."

3. Context-aware customization

Leverage Manus's understanding of business context:

"Adapt [solution/content/strategy] specifically for our business context and industry requirements.

Our business: [Detailed company description, industry, size, stage, challenges] Our customers: [Customer profiles, needs, behaviors, preferences] Our constraints: [Budget, timeline, resources, technical limitations] Our goals: [Specific objectives and success criteria]

Create solutions that are perfectly tailored to our situation, not generic templates. Consider our unique challenges and opportunities in every recommendation."

4. End-to-end solution prompting

Request complete, deployment-ready solutions:

"Build a complete [solution type] that I can immediately implement and use.

Requirements: [Comprehensive specifications]

Delivery expectations:

• Fully functional and tested
• Professional quality and presentation
• Ready for immediate deployment/use
• Include all necessary documentation
• Provide training and support materials
• Ensure compatibility with our existing systems

Don't just create a prototype or proof of concept - deliver a production-ready solution that provides immediate business value."

Optimizing results with Manus AI

1. Provide comprehensive context

• Include all relevant business information upfront
• Specify industry, company size, target market, and competitive context
• Describe current challenges and desired outcomes
• Share relevant data, documents, or examples when helpful

2. Define success criteria clearly

• Specify measurable outcomes and performance indicators
• Include timeline and resource constraints
• Describe how the deliverable will be used and by whom
• Set quality and professional standards expectations

3. Trust the autonomous process

• Avoid micromanaging the implementation approach
• Focus on outcomes rather than methodology
• Allow Manus to make optimal tool and technique choices
• Embrace the "leave it to Manus" philosophy for best results

4. Request production-ready deliverables

• Ask for complete, finished outputs rather than drafts or outlines
• Specify file formats and delivery preferences
• Request live deployments when applicable
• Include all necessary documentation and support materials

5. Leverage multi-modal capabilities

• Combine text, visual, and interactive elements in requests
• Ask for comprehensive solutions that span multiple formats
• Request integrated campaigns or systems rather than isolated pieces
• Take advantage of Manus's ability to create and deploy complete solutions

Best practices summary

1. Think outcomes, not conversations: Focus on what you want delivered, not how to get there
2. Provide complete context: Give Manus all the information needed for optimal results
3. Request production-ready deliverables: Ask for finished, usable outputs
4. Embrace autonomous execution: Trust Manus to handle implementation details
5. Specify success criteria: Define clear expectations and quality standards
6. Leverage multi-modal capabilities: Request comprehensive solutions across formats
7. Plan for immediate use: Ask for solutions ready for deployment or implementation
8. Focus on business value: Ensure all deliverables provide tangible benefits

Manus AI's strength lies in its ability to autonomously execute complex, multi-step projects and deliver complete, professional-quality results. By prompting for outcomes rather than advice, you can leverage its full potential to bridge the gap between ideas and implementation.